Trump Posts Map Proposing to Rename New Mexico as ‘New Ameri

President Donald Trump posted an image on social media Sunday suggesting the state of New Mexico be renamed “New America,” igniting immediate backlash from Democratic officials across the state. The White House reshared the image on X, though no official executive order or formal announcement accompanied the post.

The map displayed the word “Mexico” crossed out in the state’s name and replaced with “America.” Trump later posted an artificial intelligence-generated video on Truth Social depicting him slapping an “America” label over “Mexico” on the state’s welcome road sign, accompanied by a celebratory dance to “Y.M.C.A.”

“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA. So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.

Latest Addition to Renaming Campaign

The 80-year-old president’s suggestion represents his latest fixation on renaming geographic and institutional landmarks. Trump has previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” and the Strait of Hormuz to “Trump Strait.” He also added his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

While the president holds constitutional authority to rename geographic landmarks such as bodies of water, he does not possess the power to unilaterally rename states. That process would require action within the state itself, not presidential decree.

Democratic Officials Reject Proposal

Deb Haaland, the Democratic candidate for governor and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior who served as the first Native American in a U.S. Cabinet secretary position, responded swiftly to the White House post. “You can’t be serious. New Mexico is not for renaming. Not up for sale. My promise: I’ll always stand up for what makes New Mexico, New Mexico,” she stated on X.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of Las Cruces issued a pointed response directly addressing the president. “You don’t get to erase New Mexico. Not our name. Not our history. Not our culture. The President may want to call us ‘New America,’ but we know who we are,” Vasquez wrote on X.

Both of the state’s U.S. senators joined the chorus of opposition on social media. Sen. Martin Heinrich posted a list of “Three things I will always call by their actual names,” citing the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, and New Mexico.

Strong Language from State Leadership

Sen. Ben Ray Luján attacked the president more directly, declaring on social media: “It’s New Mexico, always has been and always will be. Just like how you’ll always be a sinvergüenza and corrupt.” The Spanish term “sinvergüenza” translates roughly to “shameless person” or “scoundrel.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham emphasized the state’s deep historical roots in her response, asserting the state’s name “isn’t up for debate” and noting it has belonged to the state “since before the United States existed.” She pivoted to criticize the administration’s priorities, asking, “What is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families.”

Congressional Delegation Unites in Opposition

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, who represents the state’s 1st Congressional District, expressed her rejection with strong language. “Oh hell no,” she wrote. “Our state’s name carries generations of history, culture, and family-and it belongs to us. We’re New Mexicans. Period.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull and his Democratic opponent Haaland, both competing to replace Lujan Grisham after her second and final term ends this year, also rejected Trump’s suggestion. The bipartisan nature of the opposition underscores the depth of state pride in New Mexico’s historical identity.

Satirical Origins and Fact-Checking

Trump’s post followed a satirical post that inaccurately claimed he had signed an executive order to rename the state. The fact-checking site Snopes quickly debunked the false claim. However, the satirical post emerged in the context of Trump’s actual executive orders renaming Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico to Lake America and the Gulf of America, respectively.

The timing of the president’s post during the Labor Day holiday weekend on September 6 added to the controversy, with critics suggesting the administration prioritizes symbolic gestures over substantive policy. No caption or explanation accompanied the original image shared by Trump, leaving officials and residents to interpret the intent themselves.

Constitutional Limits on Presidential Power

The proposal highlights the boundaries of presidential authority in the American federal system. While Trump has successfully renamed various geographic features through executive action, states retain sovereignty over their own names under the Constitution. Any official name change would require action by the state legislature or through the state’s constitutional amendment process, not federal intervention.

The White House has not announced any formal effort to pursue legislation or work with state officials to implement the proposed name change. The lack of follow-through suggests the post may represent another instance of the president’s social media messaging rather than a serious policy initiative, though the official reposting by the White House account gave the suggestion an air of semi-official endorsement.

Trump’s approval rating remains low as he continues to focus on renaming initiatives, drawing criticism from Democrats who argue his priorities are misplaced while working families face economic challenges.